The Porcupine Effect is a common trash can affliction.

Hnyc has been studying New York City trash cans for a long time. This particular trash can demonstrates how straws, especially big sturdy straws like those dispensed by Dunkin’ Donuts, influence the stack factor of trash cans. People in general do not like to get their hands dirty pushing down garbage, and once something – such as the straws in this picture – adds a horizontal element to the build up, fall out begins, and trash becomes strewn around the immediate area. We call this the “Porcupine Effect” because once passers-by with garbage realize their hands might get dirty from protruding objects, they tend to make a good-hearted attempt to place their trash in the can, but it often falls short. A cardboard box, plastic bag, banana peel, folded newspaper, and the background New York City Film Academy ad make this a compelling trash can scene. An image representative of New Yorkers, and what, and how, we throw the trash in our lives away.